Ammunition with electromotor

ABSTRACT

Ammunition including a projectile, and an electromotor disposed within the projectile, the electromotor including a rotor having an axis of rotation aligned with a flight path of the projectile.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention is directed to ammunition, and in particular, toammunition having a rotating stabilizing element.

BACKGROUND

Ammunition, such as, for example, shotgun ammunition, includes a shellbody, submunition, propellant, and primer. Conventionally, rifledbarrels and/or fin stabilizers are used to stabilize munitions inflight. However, such conventional stabilizing methods have proven to beinsufficient in achieving long-range accuracy.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to increase accuracy and flyingrange of a submunition.

Ammunition according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventionincludes a projectile, and an electromotor disposed within theprojectile. The electromotor includes a rotor having an axis of rotationaligned with a flight path of the projectile.

In an exemplary embodiment, the ammunition further includes apropellant, and a primer that ignites the propellant.

In an exemplary embodiment, the ammunition is handgun, shotgun, rifle,mortar or rocket ammunition.

A projectile weapon according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention includes an electrical power source for delivering electricalpower to an electromotor of a projectile delivered from the projectileweapon, the electromotor including a rotor having an axis of rotationaligned with a flight path of the projectile.

In an exemplary embodiment, the electrical power source is a battery.

In an exemplary embodiment, the projectile weapon includes a stock, andthe power source is disposed within the stock.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The features and advantages of exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention will be more fully understood with reference to the following,detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanyingfigures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagram of an artillery shell according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram of an artillery rocket according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a diagram of a small-arm weapon useable with the ammunitionaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a diagram of butt stock according to an exemplary embodimentof the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is mortar gun useable with the ammunition according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a shotgun ammunition, generally designated by referencenumber 1, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.The shotgun ammunition 1 includes a shell body 6, submunition 2,propellant 8 and primer 7. The propellant 8 may be, for example,gunpowder or a nitro-cellulose based powder. An electromotor 10 isdisposed within the shell body 6. The electromotor 10 is positioned sothat the axis of rotation of its rotor is aligned with the ammunitionflight path. An external power source 3 is used to activate theelectromotor 10. The external power source 3 may be, for example, abattery and may be electrically connected with electrical connections 5of the electromotor 10 by wires 4. Current flows through the wires 4from the external power source 3 to the electrical connections 5.

Operation of the ammunition 1 according to an exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention is as follows:

After the ammunition 1 is fixed in the gun tube and the bolt of gun isshut, the conduction loop is made and immediately current flows from theexternal power source 3 through the wires 4 to the electricalconnections 5. The delivered current activates the electromotor 1, whichstarts to rotate at, for example, 5,000-17,000 rpm. After the gun isfired, the ammunition 1 flies with the functioning electromotor 1 insidethe shell body 6. The rotation of the electromotor 6 stabilizes theammunition's flight path due to the effect of gyroscopic forces producedby the rotating rotor.

FIG. 2 is rocket ammunition, generally designated as reference number20, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Whenrocket ammunition 20 is loaded, the electromotor 21 is activated withthe use of the power source 23, which is connected to electromotor 21with wires 24 and 25.

FIG. 3 shows a small arms weapon, generally designated by referencenumber 35, and associated ammunition, generally designated by referencenumber 30, according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention. The small arms weapon may be, for example, a rifle. Theammunition 30 includes a bullet 31, and projectile 32 with anelectromotor that receives electrical energy through wires 33 and 34.

As shown in FIG. 4, an electrical battery 36 is disposed inside the butt37 of the small arms weapon 35. In other exemplary embodiments, thebattery 36 may be positioned within other parts of the rifle 35, such asin other parts of the rifle stock, or external to the weapon 35.

FIG. 5 shows a mortar-gun, generally designated by reference number 41,and associated bomb, generally designated by reference number 42,according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. When thebomb 42 is positioned within the barrel of the mortar-gun 41, current isdelivered from the power source 44 to electromotor 43 through wires 45and 46.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been illustrated anddescribed, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that variousother changes and modifications may be made without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to cover inthe appended claims all such changes and modifications that are withinthe scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. Ammunition comprising: a projectile; and anelectromotor disposed within the projectile, the electromotor comprisinga rotor having an axis of rotation aligned with a flight path of theprojectile.
 2. The ammunition of claim 1, further comprising: apropellant; and a primer that ignites the propellant.
 3. The ammunitionof claim 2, wherein the ammunition is handgun, shotgun or rifleammunition.
 4. The ammunition of claim 1, wherein the ammunition isrocket ammunition.
 5. A projectile weapon comprising: an electricalpower source for delivering electrical power to an electromotor of aprojectile delivered from the projectile weapon, the electromotorcomprising a rotor having an axis of rotation aligned with a flight pathof the projectile.
 6. The projectile weapon of claim 5, wherein theelectrical power source is a battery.
 7. The projectile weapon of claim5, wherein the projectile weapon comprises a stock, and the power sourceis disposed within the stock.